Rail anchor



A. T. PALMER Dec. 13, 1938.

RAIL ANCHOR Filed June 25, 1936 I Patented 13, 1938 UNITED STA E PATENT OFFICE 2,139,847 nan. ANorroa Alphonso '1'. Palmer, vLhioago, IlL, assigno'r of one-halite La Verge 1. Burch, Chicago, 111. I Application June 25 race, Serial No. 87,265 8 Claims. -(01. 233-330) This invention relates to improvements-in a rail anchor, particularly adapted inits use for I holding or restraining a railway, rail to which of this invention comprises a plate I! comparait is secured, against longitudinal or creeping movement relative to the tie to which the rail is spiked oranchored.

A further object is to provide an improved anchor of this character which will be of a unitary structure, readily applied and when attached to the rail will firmly grip the same. and which anchor will not become detached by movement of vthe rail in frozen ground or by abutment with the tie, but which will, when in abutment with the tie, under the tendency of the rail to move longitudinally, produce considerable power or leverage, resulting in a torque that will cause the anchor to increase its gripping action on the rail. v

A further object is to provide a device of this 9 character which will. be of a unitary structure of an undulated shape or form, providing a sinu-' soidal curve, whereby when theanchor is applied to. the rail, a portion of the anchor willface of the base of the-rail, and which points 9 or areas, will be laterally spaced with respect to each other in directions lengthwise of the To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects. as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention, and in which Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing a portion of a railroad rail with an anchor constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention applied thereto. Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a 'view similar to Figure 2, showing.

the rail anchor in a partially applied position. Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the rail anchor.

I Figure 5 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view of a portion-of the anchor.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates an ordinary railroad 6E rail which is supported by means of the usual ties in and to which ties the rail is generally anchored.

The anchor constituting the subject matter tively. long and thin with relation to its width and which plate is constructed of any suitable material having suiiicient stiffness to aiford strength and inherentresiliency to hold the anchor against the rail to prevent relative movement of the rail and anchor.

This plate is of an undulated shape or form, providing a sinusoidal curve, with the ends l3 of the plate extending substantially perpendicular to the plate, provided in the inner face preferably adjacent the upper ends thereof, with opposed grooves or recesses I l-l5. The bases Iii-l1 respectively of the grooves l4 and I5 are disposed below the upper edge 18 of the undulation or curve l9, and which latter is preferably spaced centrally between the ends l3 of the plate.

A portion of the upper surface of one of the ends [3 is preferably rounded as at 20, for a purpose to be described.

The plate i2 is provided with a portion M to form a lateral extension of a thickness less than that of the remaining portion of the plate as well as the end [3 thereof, as at22, and this extension 2| extends throughout the length of the plate, so as to reinforce or strengthen the plate and produce more power in a leverage action of the plate with respect to the base of the rail. The grooves or recesses I 4-45 extend throughout the width of the unreduced portion of the/ plate and are of a size to receive the respective edges of the base flange 23 of the.

length of the plate to produce spaced substantially parallel contact surfaces or areas 26-21 which also extend throughout the length of that portion of the face of the plate which is disposed beneath and in proximity to the lower face of the base'23 of the rail. The groove 25 has communication with the recesses I4 and I5, and terminates at the base of the recess IE, but may pass through the end of the plate adjacent the recess l4.

In applying the anchor to the base of the rail, one edge of the rail base is inserted in the groove or recess l4, and in this position the top of the undulation l9 will be disposed adjacent the lower face of the rail base, so that the portions 26 and 21 forming the walls of the groove 25 at substantially the central point between the ends i3 of the plate, will contact with the lower face of the rail base and the recess l5 (see particularly Figure 3) willbe disposed below the lower face of the rail base.

The end of the plate containingthe recess I5 is then forced over the other edge of the rail base in any suitable manner so as to cause the adjacent edge of the rail base to enter and be seated in the groove or recess IS, the end l3 of the plate or anchor snapping over the adjacent edge of the rail base. i

As this end of the anchor is forced into position, the plate l2 will be placed under tension,

causing the undulation It! to exert an end thrust against the lower face of the rail base, thereby locking or securing the plate or anchor to the rail base, under tension. This tension manifests itself in an upward thrust of the undulated portion IQ of the plate against the lower face of the rail base, and the portions or areas 26--2'|'contacting with the rail base, will cause these portions 26 and 21 to bite into or be forced against the face of the rail base under considerable tension, providing contact points or areas between the anchor plate and the rail base which will be laterally spaced from each other and in directions lengthwise of the rail.

It will therefore be manifest with the anchor thus secured to the rail base, and with one edge of the anchor plate in contact with the tie ll, if there is any tendency of the rail ID to move longitudinally and with respect to the ties H, such movement would have a-tendency to rock or twist the anchor plate l2 with respect to the rail base, resulting in a torque which will exert a powerful binding action upon the rail and thereby prevent the anchor and rail from moving longitudinally one with respect to the other and in directions lengthwise of the rail.

By the provision of the reduced extended portion 22, the anchor plate is not only reinforced but a powerful leverage will result, causing a more eflicient and effective binding between the anchor plate and the rail base.

It will therefore be manifest that with this invention there is provided an improved anchor plate which is of a unitary structure and having been once applied, and by reason of its construction and the upward thrust of the undulated portion of the plate against the lower face of the rail base, the anchor will not become detached and will not be relatively moved with respect to the rail by reason of the movement of the rail in frozen ground or by abutment of the anchor with the rail supporting tie.

Furthermore, by reason of the construction of the anchor and the pressure necessary to be exerted to hook the other end of the plate over the rail base, when one end is in engagement with the rail base, there will be created a pressure on the entire anchor plate which will prevent the anchor plate from working loose with respect to the rail.

In the event of a tendency of the rail to move longitudinally, that is in a direction to the right, with respect to Figure 1, through the powerful leverage exerted by reason of the contact of one edge of the anchor plate with the rail tie, the

of these spaced points of contact of the. anchor plate with the rail base.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and inthe combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

, What is claimed as new is:

1. In combination, a railway rail, a tie supporting said rail, and an anchor comprising as a unitary structure a member extending under the rail, said member being undulated, providing a sinusoidal curve, the ends of the member being connected with the edges of the base of the rail; and the undulated portion of the member between said ends contacting and exerting an upward thrust against the lower face of the base of the rail and frictionally binding the anchor to the rail, said member being provided with a laterally extending portion adjacent one lateral edge thereof throughout substantially the entire length of the member and of a thickness substantially less than the thickness of the remaining portion of the plate, said extension being adjacent but maintained out of contact with the rail.

2. In combination, a railway rail, a tie supporting said rail, and an anchor comprising as a unitary structure a member extending under the rail, said member being comparatively thin and narrow, with respect to its length and being undulated, providing a sinusoidal curve, the ends of the plate extending above the top of the undulation, seats in "adjacent faces of said ends to.

receive the edges of the rail base, the bottoms of said seats being normally below the crown of said undulation whereby when the edges of the rail base are seated in said seats, said plate will be placed under tension and the said undulation will exert an upward thrust against the lower face of the rail base, the said member adjacent one of the lateral edges of the rail contacting portion being provided with a lateral extension of substantial width extending throughout substantially the length of the member to reinforce the member and provide a leverage power to exert a torque to cause the member to grip the rail base, said extension being of a thickness less than the thickness of the member and being adjacent but maintained out of contact with the lower'face of the rail base.

3. As an article of manufacture, a rail anchor comprising as an integral structure, an undulated member having inherent resiliency and providing a sinusoidal curve, the ends of the member projecting beyond the crown of the intermediate undulation, said member being comparatively thin and narrow with respect to its length, and opposed open seats in the proximate faces of the said ends, the bottoms of said seats being normally disposed below the crown of the said intermediate undulation, said member along one of its lateral edges being provided with a lateral extension of substantial width extending throughout the length of the member,- said extension being of a thickness substantially less than the thickness of the remaining portion of said member, disposed adjacent and maintained out of contact with the lower face of the rail base.

4. As an article of manufacture, a rail anchor comprising as an integral structure, an undulated member having inherent resiliency and providing a sinusoidal curve, the ends of the member projecting beyond the crown of the intermediate undulation, said member being comparatively thin and narrow with respect to its length, and opposed open seats in the proximate faces of the said ends, the bottoms of said seats being normally disposed below the crown of the said intermediate undulation, a portion of the upper face of the member along one of its lateral edges, throughout the length of the member and for a substantial extent transverse to the length of the member being removed to reduce the thickness of said portion of said member, there being a groove of substantial depth and width in the upper face of the unreduced portion of said member to form spaced parallel surfaces of substantial width.

5. A rail anchor comprising a single plate of spring metal having its ends deflected laterally with respect to its length to provide substantially parallel ends of substantial length, seats in the proximate faces of said ends for the reception of the edges of a rail flange, the said plate intermediate said ends being shaped to form a curve the crown of which latter contacts the base of the rail, the top of said crown normally projecting above the base of said seats in the faces of the ends of the plate, whereby when one edge of the flange of the rail is seated in one of said seats and the crown contacts the rail base, the other end of the plate may be forced towards the rail to bring the seat in said face in engagement with the flange of the rail, and an extension beyond one of the lateral edges of said plate, said extension substantially co-inciding with the length of the plate and being of a thickness less than the thickness of the remaining portion of the plate, whereby said extension will be maintained out of contact with the rail base.

6. A single piece rail anchor of a substantially w formation, shaped with end arm portions substantially parallel and in vertical planes at substantial right angle to the plane of the base of the rail flange to substantially the free extremities of said arm portions, and seats in the faces of said vertical arm portions to engage with the longitudinal edges of the rail flange, the crown of the anchor intermediate said arm portions being normally disposed above the base of said seats, said end arm portions being disposed in allnement and in the same plane as the longitudinal plane of the body portion of the anchor.

7. A single piece rail anchor of a substantially W formation, shaped with end arm portions in the same plane as the longitudinal plane of the body of the anchor, said arm portions being substantially parallel and in vertical planes at substantial right angle to the plane of the base of the rail flange to substantially the free extremities of said arm portions, and seats in the faces of said vertical arm portions to engage with the longitudinal edges of the rail flange, the crown of the anchor intermediate said arm portions being normally disposed above the base of said seats, and in vertical allnement with the web of the rail, whereby when the anchor is secured to the rail the anchor will be placed under tension.

8. As an article of manufacture, a rail anchor comprising as an integral structure, an undulated member having inherent resiliency and providing a sinusoidal curve, the ends of the member projecting beyond the crown of the intermediate undulation and being substantially parallel substantially throughout their entire length, said member being comparatively thin and narrow with respect to its length, and opposed open seats in the proximate substantially parallel faces of the said ends, the bottoms of said seats being normally disposed below the crown of the said intermediate undulation, there being a groove of substantial depth and width in the upper face of said member and extending throughout substantially the length of said member, whereby spaced substantially parallel contact surfaces of 4 substantial area will be produced.

, ALPHONSO T. PALNIER. 

